U.S. patent number 9,211,896 [Application Number 14/138,350] was granted by the patent office on 2015-12-15 for scooter with outrigger.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Shield Mfg., Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Shield Mfg., Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert Berghash, David Delisanti, Amy Hangen.
United States Patent |
9,211,896 |
Berghash , et al. |
December 15, 2015 |
Scooter with outrigger
Abstract
A scooter with casters or similar devices enabling it to move
smoothly with efficient change of direction. Also included is an
outrigger with crosspieces that provide footrests for the rider.
The crosspieces are shaped to enable two scooters to be attached in
an assembly. The crosspiece is stored in locked and/or nested
fashion in a storage cavity formed into the bottom surface of the
scooter. A safety belt and backrest may be used with the
scooter.
Inventors: |
Berghash; Robert (Bluffton,
SC), Hangen; Amy (Clarence, NY), Delisanti; David
(Sanborn, NY) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shield Mfg., Inc. |
Tonawanda |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Shield Mfg., Inc. (Tonawanda,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
54783066 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/138,350 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B
3/02 (20130101); B62K 5/003 (20130101); B62K
13/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62B
3/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;280/87.05,87.2,87.01,87.021,18,18.1,21.1,47.2,638,35,38,39,79.11,79.2,79.5,32.6,15,656
;24/297,458 ;411/508,913 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dickson; Paul N
Assistant Examiner: Avery; Bridget
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Simpson & Simpson, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A scooter comprising: a seat having a top surface, a bottom
surface, a front side, at least two lateral sides, and a rear side,
said at least two lateral sides, said front side, and said rear
side forming an outer perimeter of said seat; a lip projecting from
said top surface and extending around only said at least two
lateral sides and said rear side; a pair of handholds wherein each
one of said pair of handholds is on one of said at least two
lateral sides; a plurality of rolling means attached to said bottom
surface; and, an outrigger having a first end and a second end and
nestingly stored in a storage cavity of said bottom surface;
wherein said storage cavity extends inwardly with respect to said
bottom surface in a direction away from said plurality of rolling
means; wherein said lip projection projects generally
perpendicularly away from said top surface of said seat; and
wherein each of said handholds is a space surrounded by said
lip.
2. The scooter as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer perimeter
extends beyond said lip.
3. The scooter as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of
rolling means are selected from the group consisting of castors,
wheels, and rollers.
4. The scooter as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least
one locking means attached to said bottom surface wherein said at
least one locking means holds said outrigger to said bottom
surface.
5. The scooter as recited in claim 1 wherein said outrigger
includes at least one crosspiece.
6. The scooter as recited in claim 1 wherein said outrigger
includes two crosspieces.
7. The scooter as recited in claim 1 wherein said first end of said
outrigger is shaped into a linking end.
8. The scooter as recited in claim 1 further comprising safety
straps attached to said scooter.
9. The scooter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a backrest
releasably attached to said scooter.
10. The scooter as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least
one additional scooter as claimed in claim 1 wherein each one of
said at least one additional scooter is releasably connected to
said scooter by said outrigger.
11. The scooter as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said
plurality of rolling means is housed in a cover.
12. The scooter as recited in claim 4 further comprising at least
one locking means positioned in said storage cavity wherein said at
least one locking means hold said outrigger in said storage
cavity.
13. The scooter as recited in claim 7 wherein said linking end
includes an additional rolling means.
14. The scooter as recited in claim 13 wherein said additional
rolling means is a castor swivelingly attached to said linking
end.
15. The scooter as recited in claim 8 further comprising slots to
receive said safety straps.
16. The scooter as recited in claim 9 further comprising shoulder
straps attached to said backrest, wherein said shoulder straps are
releasably securable to safety straps.
17. The scooter as recited in claim 10 wherein each one of said at
least one additional scooter is releasably connected by a linking
end of said outrigger.
18. An assembly of a plurality of scooters, each of said scooters
comprising: a seat having a top surface, a bottom surface, at least
two lateral sides, a front side, and a rear side, said at least two
lateral sides, said front side, and said rear side forming an outer
perimeter of said seat; a lip projecting from said top surface and
extending around only said at least two lateral sides and said rear
side; a pair of handholds wherein each one of said pair of
handholds is on one of said at least two lateral sides; a plurality
of rolling means attached to said bottom surface; and, an outrigger
having a first end and a second end and nestingly stored in a
storage cavity of said bottom surface; wherein said storage cavity
extends inwardly with respect to said bottom surface in a direction
away from said rolling means; wherein each of said plurality of
scooters is releasably connected to at least one other scooter of
said plurality of scooters by one of said outriggers; wherein said
lip projection projects generally perpendicularly away from said
top surface of said seat; wherein each of said handholds is a space
surrounded by said lip; and, wherein said outer perimeter extends
beyond said lip.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field of equipment used in
play or physical education settings, particularly to equipment
suitable for children that are physically disadvantage, and more
particularly to equipment suitable for a blended play or classroom
setting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to provide as typical an environment as possible, the
current trend in education is to mix physically and mentally
disadvantaged children with physically uninhibited children into a
"blended" setting whenever possible. Creating a blended setting
also helps school administrations teach children to work with
disadvantaged youths as well as to reduce costs by removing some of
the need for specialized teachers and classrooms.
This trend toward blended education settings extends as much as
possible into physical education classrooms. In physical education,
the challenge to provide a meaningful experience simultaneously for
both disadvantaged and physically uninhibited students is
especially daunting. With physically uninhibited children there is
a range of physical ability, with some students being faster and/or
stronger than others. However, in a blended physical education
setting, two distinct groups of students are formed, namely
physically uninhibited students and disadvantaged students. This
situation makes it difficult to create a class or activity in which
both groups of students have a shared exercise that provides an
educational experience and equal pleasure to both groups.
Therefore, there is a need in the field for a device that will
enable the efficient blending of disadvantaged and normal children
in a physical education or play environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention broadly comprises a scooter comprising: a
seat having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front side, at least
two lateral sides, and a rear side, the at least two lateral sides,
the front side, and the rear side forming an outer perimeter of the
seat; a lip projecting from the top surface and extending from the
at least two lateral sides and the rear side; a pair of handholds
wherein each one of the pair of handholds is on one of the at least
two lateral sides; a plurality of rolling means attached to the
bottom surface; and, an outrigger having a first end and a second
end and nestingly stored in the bottom surface.
In an alternate embodiment, the present invention also broadly
comprises an assembly of a plurality of scooters, each of the
scooters comprising: a seat having a top surface, a bottom surface,
at least two lateral sides, a front side, and a rear side, the at
least two lateral sides, the front side, and the rear side forming
an outer perimeter of the seat; a lip projecting from the top
surface and extending to each of the opposing sides and a the rear
side; a pair of handholds wherein each one of the pair of handholds
is on one of the at least two lateral sides; a plurality of rolling
means attached to the bottom surface; and, an outrigger having a
first end and a second end and nestingly stored in the bottom
surface; wherein each of the plurality of scooters is releasably
connected to at least one other scooter of the plurality of
scooters by the outrigger.
An object of the invention is to provide a device that can be used
in a blended play or physical education environment.
A second object of the invention is to present a device that can be
used singly or in an assembly of devices.
A third object of the invention is to supply a recreational device
that provides safety equipment for a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will
now be more fully described in the following detailed description
of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing Figures, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the scooter of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective exploded view of the scooter of the
present invention showing the scooter and the outrigger with
crosspieces extending from the long arm of the outrigger;
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the scooter of the present
invention with the outrigger stored in the storage cavity;
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the scooter with the
outrigger stored in the storage cavity;
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an assembly of two scooters
with one scooter attached at either end of an outrigger;
FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the assembly showing the
attachment of the outrigger to between two scooters in the
assembly;
FIG. 7 depicts the scooter assembly in which one outrigger extends
beyond the gap in the front end of the forward scooter with the
front crosspiece and middle crosspiece both showing beyond front
end of the lead scooter;
FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective of the assembly showing how the
outriggers attach the individual scooters in a chain- or train-like
assembly;
FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of an additional embodiment of the
scooter of the present invention in which a back rest is joined to
the scooter;
FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view showing an outrigger extended
from and attached to a single scooter;
FIG. 11 is a side view of the scooter with the backrest
attached;
FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 10 also showing a rider sitting in
the scooter;
FIGS. 13 and 14 are front perspective views the scooters stacked
securely on one another;
FIGS. 15-17 are various views of one embodiment of the locking
means used to hold the outrigger in place;
FIG. 18 is a profile view of the safety belt; and,
FIG. 19 is a profile view of the shoulder straps.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers
on different drawing views identify identical structural elements
of the invention. It also should be appreciated that figure
proportions and angles are not always to scale in order to clearly
portray the attributes of the present invention.
While the present invention is described with respect to what is
presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is
understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiments. The present invention is intended to cover various
modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the particular methodology, materials and modifications described
and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the
terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present
invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It
should be appreciated that the term "substantially" is synonymous
with terms such as "nearly", "very nearly", "about",
"approximately", "around", "bordering on", "close to",
"essentially", "in the neighborhood of", "in the vicinity of",
etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in
the specification and claims. It should be appreciated that the
term "proximate" is synonymous with terms such as "nearby",
"close", "adjacent", "neighboring", "immediate", "adjoining", etc.,
and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the
specification and claims. Although any methods, devices or
materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be
used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred
methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Adverting to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of
scooter 10 of the present invention. The body of scooter 10
includes a top surface in the form of seat 42 provides a surface
for a user to sit on scooter 10. Scooter 10 includes at least two
lateral sides 12, rear side 14, and front side 16. Lateral sides
12, rear side 14, and front side 16 form outer perimeter 19. Lip 18
projects up generally perpendicularly from top surface 42 of the
outer portion of seat 42 and extends around scooter 10 from the at
least two lateral sides 12 and rear side 14. Seat belt 50 protrudes
through slit 51 and extends across seat 42 with the two ends
releasably held together by buckle 52. Gap 17 is seen in perimeter
19 on front side 16. A lateral side is defined as a side that does
not face directly toward the front or rear.
FIG. 1 also depicts rolling means 20 attached to scooter 10. In a
preferred embodiment, covers 20a project from perimeter 19 to cover
rolling means 20 and act as the attachment point of rolling means
20 to scooter 10. Alternatively, rolling means 20 may be attached
directly to the bottom surface of scooter 10. Rolling means 20 may
be wheels, rollers, casters, or other similar devices well known to
those having skill in the art. Preferably, rolling means 20 are
casters 20 that are swivelingly attached to covers 20a to support
scooter 10 off the floor or ground and to allow smooth movement and
change of direction for scooter 10. Handholds 18a are spaces
defined, i.e. surrounded by lip 18 and are preferably positioned on
opposing lateral sides 12. In a preferred embodiment, seat 42 is
contoured ergonomically for maximum comfort for the user.
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of scooter 10 also showing
outrigger 30. Outrigger 30 includes forward end 30a and back end
30b as well as long arm 31 ("arm 31") with front crosspiece 32a,
middle crosspiece 32b, and rear crosspiece 32c (collectively
"crosspieces 32") extending from arm 31. In the preferred
embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the three crosspieces 32 extend
substantially perpendicularly from arm 31. By substantially in this
context is meant that crosspieces 32 are visibly perceived as
extending perpendicularly from arm 31. Preferably, crosspieces 32
are integral with arm 31 to form a single integrated unit. By
integral is meant that the component parts are formed together as a
single unit. Locking holes 34 are found at each end of crosspieces
32. Optionally, rolling means 22 is proximate front crosspiece 32a
and may be a caster swivelingly attached to outrigger 30 or a wheel
rotatingly attached to outrigger 30. Protrusions 28 are also seen
protruding from the bottom surface of scooter 10.
Outrigger 30 is preferably stored in nested fashion in storage
cavity 40 formed in the bottom surface of scooter 10 as seen in
FIG. 4. Locking means 36, positioned in the bottom of storage
cavity 40, are received into locking holes 34 to hold outrigger 30
in storage cavity 40. In an alternate embodiment, outrigger 30 may
be held in nested fashion in cavity 40 with a snug, friction fit
without using locking means. FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of
scooter 10 with outrigger 30 stored in cavity 40. Forward end 30a
is seen extended through gap 17.
FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of scooter 10 with outrigger 30
stored in storage cavity 40. Locking means 36 extend through
locking holes 34 to hold outrigger 30 in place in cavity 40. In the
embodiment shown, it can be seen that middle area 40a of cavity 40
is larger than crosspiece 32b. As mentioned above, in an alternate
embodiment, outrigger 30 can be stored in cavity 40 with a friction
fit.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of assembly 100 of lead scooter
10' and rear scooter 10'' with the two scooters attached at either
end of outrigger 30 extending from rear scooter 10''. FIG. 6 is a
bottom perspective view of the assembly showing the attachment of
outrigger 30 to scooters 10' and 10'' of assembly 100. Outrigger 30
forms an attachment between rear side 14 of forward scooter 10' and
lead side 16 of back scooter 10''. Front cross piece 32a is locked
into the rear cross cavity of storage cavity 40 in front scooter
10' using locking means 36 while rear crosspiece 32c is locked into
the front cross cavity of storage cavity 40 of back scooter 10''
using locking means 36. In the preferred embodiment shown, it can
be seen that front crosspiece 32a and rear crosspiece 32c are
preferably sized to fit securely within the front and rear portions
of cavity 40. Front end 30a with cross piece 32a forms a linking
end supported by rolling means 20, which may be caster 20. It will
be recognized that assembly 100 may include more than two scooters
10 attached together as described above.
FIG. 7 depicts scooter assembly 100 in which one outrigger 30
extends beyond gap 17 so that front crosspiece 32a and middle
crosspiece 32b are both showing beyond front end 16 of lead scooter
10'. Rolling means 22 supports the front end of outrigger 30 and
allows it to move easily with scooters 10 and 10'.
FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective of assembly 100 showing how the
outriggers 30 attach individual scooters 10' and 10'' in a chain-
or train-like assembly as well as how the outrigger from lead
scooter 10 enables movement of the entire assembly 100. Lead
outrigger 30 is attached to lead scooter 30 by locking means 36
located in the forward cross cavity in storage cavity 40. This
attachment provides back end support for outrigger 30 while rolling
means 22 provide front end support as well as enabling lead scooter
10 to move supported by rolling means 20 attached to scooter 10
itself.
Rear scooter 10'' is attached to lead scooter 10' by connecting the
front end 30a of second outrigger 30' to the back gap 17a in lead
scooter 10' again using locking means 36. Similar to lead outrigger
30, front end 30a of second outrigger 30' is supported on a floor
or ground by rolling means 22. Preferably access to the back cross
cavity is provided by gap 17a in rear end 14 of scooter 10.
FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of scooter 10 depicting an
additional embodiment in which back rest 60 is joined to scooter
10. In one embodiment, backrest 60 is inserted into support holes
62 proximate rear end 14 of scooter 10. This insertion may form a
releasable connection. Alternatively, backrest 60 may be fixedly
attached to scooter 10.
Shoulder straps 64 are attached to backrest 60 in a supporting
manner and extend to safety straps 50 to hold a rider, such as a
physically disadvantaged rider, in place while a second person
pushes scooter 10 through backrest 60.
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of scooter 10 showing outrigger 30
attached to scooter 10 and extending out of opening 17. Also seen
are holes 62 which receive backrest 60 into scooter 10.
FIG. 11 is a side view of scooter 10 with backrest 60 attached to
scooter 10. Outrigger 30 extends from front end 16. Also seen are
back strap 60 attached to safety strap 50. FIG. 12 is a similar
side view with a rider sitting on the top surface of scooter 10 and
held in place by safety strap 50 and back strap 60. Front cross
piece 32a acts as a foot rest for the rider which has the advantage
of providing support for the legs and feet of the rider while
simultaneously enabling more efficient movement of scooter 10 as
the rider's feet do not drag on the floor or ground or interfere
with the movement of scooter 10. Middle cross piece 32b can be used
as a foot rest for riders with shorter legs.
FIGS. 13 and 14 are front perspective views showing scooters 10
stacked securely on one another. By securely is meant that the
scooters include a feature and/or shape that enables stacking while
the tendency of the stack to fall is reduced or eliminated. Bottom
protrusion 28 is positioned and shaped to fit partly around lip 18
of the scooter stacked below it. This provides the lateral support
needed to reduce the possibilities of the stack falling. Persons of
skill in the art will recognize that other features with different
shapes may also be used to add to the stability of the stack. FIG.
13 depicts scooters 10 stacked without outriggers 30, while FIG. 14
show outriggers 30 stored in cavity 40 in the stacked scooters 10.
In each stack, protrusions 28 are nested inside lip 18 of the
scooter 10 below to act to maintain the stability the stack of
scooters.
FIGS. 13 and 14 also demonstrate the advantageous position of
perimeter edge 19 outside lip 18 inside. By outside is meant
perimeter 19 extends out further from the top surface 42 of scooter
10 than lip 18. Hand holds 18a are defined by lip 18 and are also
inside perimeter 19. This inside position has the advantage of
protecting the hand from being bumped or pinched by other scooters
10 or other low lying objects as perimeter 19 will act as a guard
to prevent the low lying objects from reaching to hands holding
handholds 18a.
FIGS. 15-17 are various views of one embodiment of locking means 36
used to hold outrigger in place in storage cavity 40 and/or
attached to a second scooter 10' in scooter assembly 100. FIG. 15
is a cutaway view of locking means 36 showing lock 37 with stem 37a
over hollow post 38. FIG. 16 is a front perspective view depicting
lock 37 over post 38. FIG. 17 is a front perspective view showing
lock 37 inserted into stem 38. Persons of skill in the art will
recognize that hole 34 may be sized to fit over hollow post 38 with
lock 37 inserted into post 38 and turned to hold outrigger 30 in
place. In an alternate embodiment, hole 34 may be sized to form a
friction fit around the handle of lock 37 precluding the need to
insert stem 37a into post 38 each time the particular locking means
36 is used. It will be recognized that other embodiments of locking
means 36 may be used such as pins, nut and bolt assemblies to
provide a releasable attachment of outrigger 30 to scooter 10.
FIG. 18 is a profile view of safety belt 50. Buckle 52 is shown
with first end 54 protruding therefrom to be inserted into second
end 56. FIG. 19 depicts shoulder straps 64 straps 66 having loop 67
to fit around backrest 60 and loop 68 into which safety strap 50 is
inserted to hold shoulder straps 66 in place.
Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently
obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention
should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the
art, which changes would not depart from the spirit and scope of
the invention as claimed.
* * * * *